RICHARD Hill rates tomorrow’s FA Cup visit of Vanarama Conference rivals Lincoln City as the biggest match in Eastleigh’s history.

Although his pioneering predecessor Ian Baird broke new ground when he took the Spitfires beyond the qualifying rounds five years ago, Hill is the first manager to be leading them into first round action on Stoneham Lane soil.

While a diehard group of Spitfires fans had to slog all the way to rain-swept Barrow to watch Baird’s class of 2009/10 unluckily lose 2-1, Eastleigh are hoping for huge support at the Silverlake tomorrow where average attendances have more than doubled to 1,500 since promotion to non-League’s top flight.

“Whatever anyone else says, this for me is the biggest game, certainly in my time at the club, and possibly in Eastleigh’s history,” said Hill.

“I’m sure Bairdy might say differently, as might some other managers who’ve had big games relevant to the level the club’s been at. “But, for me, this is the biggest because we’re at home, because of the prize on offer and because we’re playing Lincoln City with all their history and the managers they’ve had. One of them, Graham Taylor, went on to manage England and there was the late Keith Alexander, God rest his soul.

“We’re playing a recognised club who you could be forgiven for thinking are still in the Football League.”

The Imps, though, have hit hard times since relegation from League Two on the last day of 2010/11. Earlier this week they placed boss Gary Simpson on gardening leave and handed director and coach Chris Moyses the first-team reins.

Chairman Bob Dorrian claimed Lincoln were so cash-strapped that they couldn’t afford to hire a new boss from outside the club.

Moyses began his tenure with a 2-1 home defeat to Altrincham on Tuesday, making it just one win in five league and cup games for the Imps.

Eastleigh, in contrast, have reeled off four straight victories and are unbeaten at home this term.

But Hill will not let Lincoln’s troubles lull them into a false sense of security.

“It’s their business, not ours, and I don’t think it has any bearing whatsoever – and neither does us being drawn at home,” he stressed. “We’re both fighting for the same prize and we need to show Lincoln respect.”

Team-wise, Hill’s most pressing concern is whether Jai Reason, Craig McAllister and Michael Green will be fit to play.

Reason (knee) and McAllister (ankle) have not trained all week and left-back Green pulled out of training yesterday with a hamstring problem. Jack Midson is ready to return to the squad after a month out with a shoulder injury, but midfielder Jamie Collins (hamstring) is a definite non-starter and skipper Dean Beckwith launches into a three-match suspension after his straight red against Chester last week.

“We’ll have to wait and see with Jai, Macca and Greener, but Saturday might be too soon for all three,” said Hill.

“We have to be careful because we’ve got a league game at Forest Green on Tuesday and we need to get a team out for that.

“I didn’t play (centre-back) Paul Reid last week because he was on four bookings and I wanted everyone available this weekend. We haven’t got Dean now and, with the injuries, it’s going to be tight for us.”